Thursday, June 12, 2008
Talisay’s admin defends Manila study tour
THE five-day Lakbay Aral trip to Manila of Talisay City officials and department heads drew flak from rank-and-file workers, who described it as a misplaced priority during this time of food and fuel crises.
The trip, which began with a sisterhood city agreement signing in Makati City last Monday, reportedly costs the City over P700,000.
That amount reportedly covers hotel accommodations and airfare of 29 persons led by Mayor Socrates Fernandez and Vice Mayor Lani Abarquez.
Fernandez, however, immediately returned to Cebu last Monday afternoon, hours after the Makati City rites.
Of the 13-member City Council, Councilors Dennis Basillote, Sergio Restauro and Alan Bucao, the lone independent legislator, did not join the tour.
Fernandez and City Administrator Richel Bacaltos quickly defended the Lakbay Aral, brushing aside criticisms that it was a mere junket.
“It’s an educational tour in the real sense of the word. We have to see other places of development to get an idea how they use their resources,” said Bacaltos in a mobile phone interview.
Bacaltos said the educational trip could have been held last May but was postponed for lack of funds and non-availability of department heads.
He said the P700,000 budget may not be accurate because the funds are chargeable against the operating expenses for each department.
Fernandez said that the council also passed a resolution authorizing the expenses for the tour.
Fernandez, now on his second term, said it’s the first Lakbay Aral since he assumed as mayor in 2004. The first one was held during the stint of his predecessor, now Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, 1st district).
“An investment in learning is expensive but in return it is beneficial to the city,” Fernandez said.
He said the City Government has not been remiss in delivering the basic services to the Talisaynons, adding that it will even implement the employees’ salary increase next month.
But the City of Talisay Employees Union (CTEU), now headed by Kym Abay-Albrando, considered the budget as too much for a five-day trip.
Albrando, a former youth leader, said it is contrary to the call of President Arroyo to adopt austerity measures amid the soaring prices of fuel and basic goods.
For his part, Bucao told dyFR Radio Fuerza that he was not keen on attending the trip as he considered the category of Makati City “too high” for Talisay.
It could have been better if the tour focused on local government units whose status is the same or just a bit higher than Talisay’s.
The trip’s budget, he added, could have also been used to improve the city-run slaughterhouse in Barangay Mohon.
From Makati City, the group was scheduled to visit Quezon City Hall, its urban affairs office, the Payatas garbage center and Congress yesterday.
Today, the tour covers Marikina City Hall, its riverbank, which has been turned into an economic enterprise, its environmental protection area and green lanes for tricycles.
In the afternoon, the group will pay a courtesy call on Presidential Management Staff Secretary Cerge Remonde.
Their visit to Tagaytay City will be their last stop on Friday. (GC)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 12, 2008 issue)
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